Container



l. L. WILCOX Nov. 28, 1967 CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 9, 1966 ATTORNEYS l. L. WILCOX Nov. 28, 1967 CONTAI NER Filed May 9, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 G. l F

/NVE/VTOR l WI LCOX Nov. 28, 1967 Filed May 9, 1966 L. wlLcox 3,355,083

CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet Z5 er f ATTORNEYS NOV. 28, 1967 1 W|| COX 3,355,083

CONTAINER Filed May 9, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l INVENTOR.

- l. l .w|1 cox BY f A T TORNEVS United States Patent O M 3,355,083 CNTAINER Isaac L. Wilcox, Fulton, NY., assgnor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 9, 1966, Ser. No. 548,472

10 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 482,993, filed August 9, 1965, now U.S. 3,295,739 which in turn is a continuation-impart of the copending application Ser. No. 369,830, filed May 25, 1964, and now abandoned.

This invention has to do, in general, with containers formed of paper-board and used for the packaging of liquid products. The invention is particularly applicable to gable top containers of rectangular cross section formed from a paperboard blank coated on both sides with a thermoplastic material. These containers, provided With suitable top and bottom structures, are commonly used in the dairy industry for packaging milk, orange juice, lemonade and the like. The gable top closure structure .consists generally of opposed front and rear roof panels inclined to make the gable formation, and a pair of triangular-shaped end closure panels inclined upwardly between the front and rear roof panels. These end closure panels have integral fold-back panels that assume a position lying against the underside of the front and rear roof panels. The fold-back panels, and the front and rear roof panels, are formed with integral ridge panels, which get to be disposed in vertical c-ontacting relation and are joined together, usually, by some form of adhesive to form the ridge of the gable top.

Although numerous configurations have been propose for the top structure of such gable top containers, very few have enjoyed any significant commercial success.

Many of the proposed designs have proven to be diiiicult to open or to provide a tight reclosure. It has been proposed, as in British Patent 583,755, that a slit be provided in the roof panel to permit a greater ease in opening the container. However, some difficulties of leakage have been encountered when a score line intersects such a slit.

In one aspect this invention has as an object the provision of an improved configuration of a slit opening in a gable top container. It is an object of the invention to prevent or at least minimize leakage from gable top containers. It is a further object of the invention to provide a gable t-op container having an improved spout.

Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a study of the specification, the drawing and the appended claims to the invention.

In the drawing, FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention, FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the paperboard blank from which the container ,of FIGURE 1 is formed, FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the gable top structure with a portion of the front roof panel and the contiguous portion of the ridge panel surmounting the same being removed, FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the sealed ridge structure, FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the top portion of the container of FIGURE 1 in the sealed condition, FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the top portion of the container of FIG- URE 1 in partially opened condition, FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the top portion of the container of FIG- vURE l in fully opened condition, FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, and FIGURE 9 is a plan View of the paperboard blank from which the container of FIGURE 8 is formed.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the rectangular blank is provided with vertical score lines 12, 13, 14 and 15, extending upwardly from the lower edge of the blank to a series 126 of horizontally extending score lines 1261/1, 126b, 126C, 126d and 126e. The score lines 13,' 14 and 126b define a front side Wall panel 17. Score lines 15 and 126:2', and 12 and 126e define panels 18 'and 19, the free edges of which, in the formed container, are overlapped and joined by a permanent adhesive bond to form a rear side wall panel which is located opposite front side panel 17. End wall panels 21 and 22 are defined by score lines 12, 13 and 126g and 14, 15 and 126C, respectively. Horizontal score lines 126a and 126C are located lower on the container than score lines 126b, 126d and 126e to substantially reduce the thickness of the folds at adjacent lower corners of the closure panels. In other words, the spacing apart in the vertical plane of the bend of each roof panel into its vertical container wall from the bend of each end closure panel into its vertical container wall permits smaller and more attractive folds in the resulting corners of the container. With the scoring arrangement shown in FIGURE 2, the panels 17, 21, 22 and the rear wall panel formed by panels 18 and 19 are al1 of equal width.

The vertical score lines 12, 13, 14 and 15, which are located at the vertical corners of the completed container, extend upwardly past score lines 126 as at 132, 133, 134 and 135, and terminate at the top edge of the blank. Horizontal score line 23 is located a short distance downwardly from the top edge of the blank.

When the blank has been folded to tubular form and overlapping edges of the panels 18 and 19 have been joined together, a bottom closure 25 (FIGURE 1) is permanently sealed to the lower end of the tubular formation. Score lines 133, 134, 12617 and 23 define the front roof closure panel composed of sections 107 and 108. Score lines 133, 134 and 23 define the ridge panel comprising sections 102 and 103, surmounting the front roof panel. Score lines 132, 135, 126d, 126e and 23 define the rear roof closure panel composed of sections 109, 110 and 72. Score lines 135, 132 and 23 define the ridge panel, comprising sections 73 and 75, surmounting the rear roof panel. Score lines 132, 133, 126:1 and 23 define a rectangular end closure panel. This end closure panel is provided With converging sc-ore lines 60 and 61 which at their upper ends intersect the score line 23 medial of score lines 132 and 133, thus defining a triangular end panel portion 63 and a pair of triangular fold-back panel portions 64 and 65. Score lines 132, 133, 23 and 69 define ridge panels 70 and 71, surmounting fold-back panel portions 64 and 65, respectively. Score lines 134, 135, 126C and 23 define a second rectangular end closure panel. This second end closure panel is provided with converging score lines 147 and 148, which, at their upper ends, intersect score line 23 medial of score lines 134 and 135, thus deiiining a triangular end panel portion 50 and a pair of triangular fold-back panels 51 and 52. Score lines 134,

55, and 23 define ridge panels 56 and 57, surmounting fold-back panel portions 51 and 52, respectively. In the completed container, the two end closure panels are infolded between and beneath the two roof closure panels, with the adjacent ridge panels being heat sealed to each other.

Score lines 132, 133, 134 and 135 are of extended width, with respect to the remainder of score lines 12, 13, 14 and 15, with the extension being in a direction toward the center of the respective roof panel. Thus score lines 133 and 134 are of extended width in the direction of the center of the front roof panel formed by panels 107 and 108, while score lines 132 and 135 are of extended width in a direction toward the center of the rear roof panel formed by panels 72, 109 and 110.

When the blank of FIGURE 2 is folded in the score lines 12, 13, 14 and 15 about the square mandrel of the container erecting machine, the closure panels above the series of score lines 126 form a square tubular cross section ina direction transversely of the container. When the top closure panels are folded inwardly, the greater width of score lines 132, 133, 134 and 135 provides extra material for the end closure panels 50, 51, 52 and 63, 64, 65 and surmounting ridge panels 56, 57 and 70, 71, whereby in the formed and sealed container ridge panels 56 and 71, have a greater combined length than ridge panels 102, 103 surmounting the front roof panel. Similarly ridge panels 57 and 70 have ya greater combined length in the formed and sealed container than the ridge panel formed by panels 73, 75 surmounting the rear roof panel. This, in turn, results in the hinge joints on score lines 55 and 69 abutting or slightly overlapping at the center of the laminar ridge structure formed by bonding the ridge panels together las at 170 in FIGURES 3 and 4.

In containers of this type employing conventional scoring with the vertical score lines 12-15 being of uniform width throughout their length, the ridge panels surmounting the front and rear roof panels, and surmounting the end panels are all of equal length. In manipulating these panels to folded, closed position, the hinge joint between the ridge panel sections, surmounting the fold-back panels, fail to meet or abut at the center of the ridge structure and, accordingly, there is a space between the inner folded ends of the inner ridge panels surmounting the fold-back panels. This spacing has a dimension transversely of the ridge structure equivalent to double the thickness of the blank due to the folded inner ridge panels, whereby there is, accordingly, a small aperture for the escape of liquid contents from the container.

However, with the arrangement above described, wherein the folded ends of the inner ridge panels abut or overlap, such a leak passage is entirely avoided.

It will be apparent that this improvement is obtained simply by the modification of the vertical scoring in the areas 132-135, which obviously resuits in no increase in the cost of producing the blank, and also no change or modification in the container erecting equipment. It also results in maintaining the square form of the container body, thus avoiding any changes in the equipment for handling and casing the lled containers.

In the second end closure panel, which serves as the pouring spout, converging score lines 147 and 148 intersect horizontal seore line 23 midway between score lines 134 and 135. Vertical score line 55 extends upwardly from the intersection of score lines 147 and 148 to the top edge of the blank. The weakened line of severance 180 is located in the upper part of panel portions 50, 51 and 52 below horizontal score line 23. The weakened line of severance 180 would intersect score lines 147 and 148 at pointsy below the junction of score lines 147 and 148 except that score lines 147 and 148 are discontinuous, or interrupted, in the area of the weakened line of severance 180:. Score lines 147 and 148 stop short of line 180 to prevent leakage which could otherwise occur by capillary action through the slit and along the score lines. Eliminating all score line grooves in the vicinity of the line 180 provides a at surface completely around the periphery of the slit, thus permitting a liquid tight seal to be effected between the tape 93 and the container. The weakened line of severance is preferably formed in three sections, each end section 18011 and 180b being formed by a series of zig-zag incisions and the center section 180C being formed by a straight, horizontal incision. Center section 180e extends completely. across panel 50 and preferably extends into panels 51 and 52. The straight center section 180e provides for easier separation of the pouring spout section of end panel 50 from the upper portion thereof above severance line 180. This is particularly important in view of the large amount of paperboard in the relatively small area of the triangle formed by lines 147, 148 and 180e as well as the fold lines formed in this area by the fabrication of the central laminar ridge and subsequent opening and closing of the pouring spout.

A strip of tape 93 (FIGURE l) is bonded to the second end closure panel in overlying relation to the weakened line of severance 180. The tape 93 is applied over the weakened line of severance and heat sealed to the entire marginal surface about the weakened line of severance. The tape 93 can be formed of thermoplastic material or it can be a non-thermoplastic material provided with a coating of thermoplastic material compatible and heatsealable to the thermoplastic coating on the container. It is presently preferable that the non-thermoplastic material have a heat-reilective outer surface to prevent any weakening of the bond between tape 93 and the container during the time the top section of the container is being subjected to heat in preparation for sealing the ridge panels to form the central laminar ridge. The ends 94 of tape 93 extend beyond the ends of the second end closure panel to provide grasping tabs.

In order to provide a snap action for opening and closing the pouring spout, the front roof panel is provided with a score line extending upwardly from the intersection of horizontal score line 126b and vertical score line 134, to the point on score line 23 midway between vertical scores lines 133 and 134. Score line 190 is preferably formed in four sections 191, 192, 193 and 194. Section 194 extends downwardly from the point on score line 23 midway between score lines 133 and 134 on substantially a direct line toward the intersection of score lines 126b and 134. Section 192 is positioned approximately midway between the lower end of section 194 and the intersection of score lines 126b and 134, approximately parallel to said direct line but spaced therefrom toward the upper corner of the front roof panel formed by the intersection of score lines 23 and 134. Score line 191 extends from the intersection of score lines 126b and 134 to the lower end of section 192 while section 193 extends from the upper end of section 192 of the lower end of section 194. The angle of inclination of score line 191 within the front roof panel with respect to the horizontal reference is thus greater than the angle of inclination of score line 147 on the same reference basis. The portion of panel 107 which is the area between score lines 191, 192 and 193 and the imaginary line having the same angle of inclination as score line 147 in the formed container thus serves as a fulcrum for snapping the pouring spout between the two stable positions of opened and closed. Score lines 196 and 197 are approximately perpendicular to and intersect section 192A at the junctions therewith of sections 191 and 193, respectively. Score lines 196 and 197 are located on the side of section 192 opposite the intersection of score lines 23 and 134 to act as braces to strength score line 190. Score lines 196 and 197 cause the roof panel to bend along score line 190 instead of merely following a natural bend on the direct line between the intersection of score lines 126b and 134 and section 194. The rear roof panel 109, 110 is provided with score line 200, corresponding to score line 190, having sections 201, 202, 203 and 204 corresponding to sections 191, 192, 193 and 194, respectively, and score lines 206 and 207 corresponding to score lines 196 and 197, respectively. Score lines and 205 can be provided as an extension of sections 194 and 204 through the surmounting ridge panels.

A first plurality of parallel score lines 210 extend downwardly and to the right from each of vertical score lines 12, 13, 14 and 15 while a second plurality of parallel score lines 211 extend downwardly and to the left from each of vertical score lines 12, 13, 14 and 15. Corresponding ones of score lines 210 and 211 can have a common intersection with the vertical score line to form a plurality of chevrons or V-shaped score lines having upwardly directed apexes. In a presently preferred embodiment, the lower ends of score lines 210 and 211 are located at approximately the upper edge of the vertical seal panels of bottom closure 25. However score lines 210 and 211 can be spaced some distance above bottom closure 25, but still within the lower half of the container. The score lines 210 and 211 are directed downwardly at an angle of inclination from the vertical in the ran-ge of 15 to 75. It has been found that score lines 210 and 211 having an angle of inclination in the stated range provide a greater degree of protection against rupture of the container side walls than would be provided by horizontal score lines of similar size, length and location. A more preferred range for the angle of inclination from the vertical of score lines 210 and 211 is from 30 to 60, with the value of approximately 45 being very satisfactory. The chevron score lines on a given vertical corner can be spaced from each other by any desired amount, but the spacing will generally be in the range of Ms inch to 2%; inch. The length of each arm of a chevron score line can be any desired value, but will generally be in the range of 1A: inch to 2 inches.

While the weakened score line has been illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 7 as being in one of the end closure panels, it is apparent that it can be located in one of the roof panels, as for example is shown in British Patent 583,755. A modification of the container of FIGURES 1 through 7 to incorporate the weakened score line in one of the roof panels in the manner of British Patent 583,755 instead of in one of the end closure panels is illustrated in FIGURE 8, with the corresponding blank being illustrated in FIGURE 9. For purposes of simplicity, the elements of the container and blank of FIGURES 8 and 9 which are common to the container and blank of FIG- URES 1 and 2 are indicated lby corresponding primed numbers. In the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9, ridge panels 102 and 103 are replaced by a single ridge panel 211 due to the omission of score line 195; score lines 147' and 148 are continuous in view of the omission of the weakened line of severance 180 from the end panel; and the snap action score lines 190V and 200 are omitted from the roof panels. The rear roof panel is composed of sections 72 and 210, while the front roof panel is a single panel 222. In accordance with the disclosure of British Patent 5 83,755, the front roof panel 222 is provided with a weakened line of severance 216 substantially parallel to score line 23 and extending horizontally across panel 222 to stop short of vertical score lines 133' and 134'. Score lines 220 and 221 extend from a point in score line 126'b approximately midway between vertical score lines 133 and 134 toward the respective ends of the weakened line of severance 216. While the corresponding score lines of British Patent 583,755 intersect the weakened line of severance, score lines 220 and 221 are interrupted in the area of the weakened line of severance 216y so that score lines 220 and 221 do not intersect line 216. Tape 218 is bonded to roof panel 22 in overlying relation to weakened line of severance 216 by being heat sealed to the entire marginal surface around line 216. While FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate the roof panel scoring arrangement of British Patent 583,755, it is obvious that other score arrangements could be utilized so long as the score lines which would otherwise intersect the weakened line of severance are interrupted in the area of the weakened line of severance.

Reasonable Variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawing and the appended claims to the invention.

I claim:

1. A gable top container of sheet material comprising a tubular body having four side walls; a bottom closure xed to said body; first and second upper panels constituting a pair of opposed roof panels inclining toward each other and overlying the top of the body; third and fourth upper panels constituting a pair of opposed rectangular end closure panels, each comprising a triangular end closure panel and a pair of triangular fold-back panels, the opposed triangular end closure panels being infolded between said roof panels from the opposite gable ends formed by the latter, and with their apexes located at the central area of the gable,

each pair of triangular fold-back panels being joined to the opposite sides of the respective one of said triangular end closure panels along fold lines which are in proximity with said roof panels, said fold-back panels being folded against the underside of said roof panels; a ridge panel surmounting each of said roof panels; a ridge panel surmounting each of said fold-back panels; each pair of ridge panels surmounting a pair of fold-back panels being hinged together at the apex of the contiguous end closure panel and being folded about such hinge joinder in faceto-face relation between the ridge panels surmounting said roof panels; a first one of said upper panels being provided with a weakened line of severance lying solely within the upper portion thereof below the respective surmounting ridge panel and extending transversely of said first one panel and terminating atv its ends in spaced relation to the side edges of said first one panel, said first one panel having a coating of ther-mosplastic material permanently bonded on the exterior side thereof; a tape overlying the exterior side of said weakened line of severance, at least the surface of said tape confronting said first one panel being formed of thermoplastic material heatscalable to said thermoplastic coating on said first one panel, said tape being bonded to the entire marginal area of said first one panel about said weakened line of severance by the heat sealing of said thermoplastic materials; all score lines which would otherwise intersect said weakened line of severance being interrupted in the area of said weakened -line of severance.

2. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said weakened line of severance comprises a series of zig-zag incisions.

3. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said weakened line of severance comprises first and second end sections and a center section, each of said first and second end sections comprising a series of zig-zag incisions, and said center section being a straight line incision.

4. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer surface of said tape is a heat reflective material.

5. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first one panel is one of said rectangular end closure panels.

6. A paperboard blank for forming a container of rectangular formation and having a gable top, said blank being formed with laterally spaced-apart score lines extending vertically from the lower to the upper edge of the blank; a score line extending transversely of the blank in downward spaced relation to the upper edge thereof; said latter score line, in conjunction with said vertically extending score lines, defining opposed front and rear side wall panels and first and second opposed end wall panels; a second transversely extending score line arranged intermediate the upper edge of said blank and said first transversely extending score line and defining, in conjunction therewith, and with said vertically extending score lines, a first upper panel constituting a front roof panel surmounting said front side wall panel, a second upper panel constituting a rear roof panel surmounting said rear side wall panel, a third upper panel constituting a rectangular end closure panel surmounting said first end wall panel, and la fourth upper panel constituting a rectangular end closure panel surmounting said second end wall panel; each of said rectangular end closure panels being provided with converging score lines inclining upwardly from said first transverse score line to said second transverse score line, and defining in each of said rectangular end closure panels, a triangular end closure panel and a pair of triangular fold-back panels hinged to the triangular end closure panel; said second transversely extending score line, in conjunction with said vertically extending score lines, defining ridge panels surmounting said front and rear roof panels, and each pair of said fold-back panels; a first one of said upper panels being provided with a weakened line of severance lying solely within the upper portion thereof below the respective surmounting ridge panel and extending transversely of said rst one panel and terminating at its ends in spaced relation to the side edges of said iirst one panel, said first one panel having a coating of thermoplastic material permanently bonded on the exterior side thereof; all score lines which would otherwise intersect said weakened line of severance being interrupted in the area of said weakened line of severance.

7. A blank in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a tape overlying the exterior side of said weakened line of severance, at least the surface of said tape confronting said first one panel being formed of thermoplastic material heat-scalable to said thermoplastic coating on said first one panel, said tape being bonded to the entire marginal area of said rst one panel about said weakened line of severance by the heat sealing of said thermoplastic materials.

8. A blank in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first one panel is one of said rectangular end closure panels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,098,601 7/1963 Anderson et al. 3,178,091 4/1965 Tobias etal 229-17 3,217,966 11/1965 Kelly 229-17 3,232,516 2/1966 Arslanian 22937 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Examiner. 

1. A GABLE TOP CONTAINER OF SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY HAVING FOUR SIDE WALLS; A BOTTOM CLOSURE FIXED TO SAID BODY; FIRST AND SECOND UPPER PANELS CONSTITUTING A PAIR OF OPPOSED ROOF PANELS INCLINING TOWARD EACH OTHER AND OVERLYING THE TOP OF THE BODY; THIRD AND FOURTH UPPER PANELS CONSTITUTING A PAIR OF OPPOSED RECTANGULAR END CLOSURE PANELS, EACH COMPRISING A TRIANGULAR END CLOSURE PANEL AND A PAIR OF TRIANGULAR FOLD-BACK PANELS, THE OPPOSED TRIANGULAR END CLOSURE PANELS BEING INFOLDED BETWEEN SAID ROOF PANELS FROM THE OPPOSITE GABLE ENDS FORMED BY THE LATTER, AND WITH THEIR APEXES LOCATED AT THE CENTRAL AREA OF THE GABLE, EACH PAIR OF TRIANGULAR FOLD-BACK PANELS BEING JOINED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID TRIANGULAR END CLOSURE PANELS ALONG FOLD LINES WHICH ARE IN PROXIMITY WITH SAID ROOF PANELS, SAID FOLD-BACK PANELS BEING FOLDED AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID ROOF PANELS; A RIDGE PANEL SURMOUNTING EACH OF SAID ROOF PANELS; A RIDGE PANEL SURMOUNTING EACH OF SAID FOLD-BACK PANELS; EACH PAIR OF RIDGE PANELS SURMOUNTING A PAIR OF FOLD-BACK PANELS BEING HINGED TOGETHER AT THE APEX OF THE CONTIGUOUS END CLOSURE PANEL AND BEING FOLDED ABOUT SUCH HINGE JOINDER IN FACETO-FACE RELATION BETWEEN THE RIDGE PANELS SURMOUNTING SAID ROOF PANELS; A FIRST ONE OF SAID UPPER PANELS BEING PROVIDED WITH A WEAKENED LINE OF SEVERANCE LYING SOLELY WITHIN THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF BELOW THE RESPECTIVE SUR- 